Method for acquiring a customer for online postage metering

Abstract

A method for acquiring customers for meter licenses for PC postage. The method includes the steps of a meter vendor obtaining a first meter license from the Post for a first meter; loaning the use of a first meter licensed in the customer's zip code to a customer; requesting a second meter license for the customer; initializing the first meter for use by the customer; and transferring the first meter to the Customer's meter license when the second meter license is received. Alternatively, when the second meter license is received a second meter is assigned to the customer and the first meter is reassigned to the meter vendor.

1. A method for acquiring by a postage meter vendor a customer for printing online postage, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a first meter license from the Post, said first meter license being associated with a first online meter account assigned to a postage meter vendor;  
 receiving a request from a customer to obtain a second meter license;  
 processing the second meter license request;  
 loaning the use of a first online meter account to the customer;  
 initializing the first online meter account for use by the customer; and  
 transferring the first online meter account to the second meter license when the second meter license is approved.  
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the postage meter vendor obtains a plurality of first meter licenses corresponding to at least one online meter account for every postal mail code and wherein the loaned first online meter account has a postal mail code corresponding to information obtained from the customer. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of initializing the first online meter account with a predetermined amount of postal funds when the first online meter account is loaned to the customer. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the loaned first online meter account is licensed in the postal mail code corresponding to the physical location of the customer. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first online meter account is licensed to a postage meter vendor that operates a data center through which metering transactions for a plurality of customers are conducted. 
   
   
     6. A method for acquiring by a postage meter vendor a customer for printing online postage, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a first meter license from the Post, said first meter license being associated with a first online meter account assigned to a postage meter vendor;  
 receiving a request from a customer to obtain a second meter license;  
 processing the second meter license request;  
 loaning the use of a first online meter account to the customer;  
 initializing the first online meter account for use by the customer; and  
 assigning a second online meter account to the customer when the second meter license is approved, said first online meter account being returned to the postage meter vendor from use by the customer.  
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the postage meter vendor obtains a plurality of first meter licenses corresponding to at least one online meter account for every postal mail code and wherein the loaned first online meter account has a postal mail code corresponding to information obtained from the customer. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 6  comprising the further steps of initializing the first online meter account with a predetermined amount of postal funds when the first online meter account is loaned to the customer and transferring any unused postal funds from the first online meter account to the second online meter account when the second online meter account is assigned to the customer. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 7  wherein the loaned first online meter account is licensed in the postal mail code corresponding to the physical location of the customer. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 6  wherein the first online meter account is licensed to a postage meter vendor that operates a data center through which metering transactions for a plurality of customers are conducted.